Civil War: Conserving Landscape, Preserving History
Often considered the single bloodiest day in American history, the Civil War battle of Antietam was fought in cornfields, sunken roads, shady woods and rolling farmland. As part of our Civil War Battlefield campaign, we worked to bring these landscapes together so that they could be protected as national hallowed ground. These lands include the historic Grove Farm where President Abraham Lincoln met with his generals after the battle, the West Woods where Union forces suffered more than 2,200 casualties in 20 minutes, and the fields of fire next to the battlefield’s infamous Bloody Lane.
Conserving Antietam’s dramatic landscape in Maryland is only one part of the Fund’s campaign, which has protected more than 9,000 acres of Civil War battlefields in 14 states with the help of private foundations, nonprofit organizations and state agencies. Using innovative mapping technology, we help local communities evaluate risks to these unique historic sites and plan their preservation for future generations of Americans.
Photo: "Bloody Lane" at Antietam Battlefield/ Chris Christner,Flickr